By Douglas V. Gibbs
The reading of the U.S. Constitution today signifies that the Republicans still recognize the U.S. Constitution as the law of the land. The founding document is the foundation from which all of our system of government comes from. The document was written to create the federal government by transferring some of the powers from the states to the federal government in order to form a more perfect union. The limiting principles have not been followed, however, and now today's American liberal sees the U.S. Constitution as nothing more than an old piece of parchment.
The oath the 435 Members of the House of Representatives raised their right hands and took is as follows: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.
They recited a constitutionally mandated oath for a Congress that exists in the first place because of the existence of the U.S. Constitution. The oath requires all Members of American government to support and defend the Constitution. That means that these people on Capitol Hill are obliged to observe the limits of their authority and act in accordance with the powers delegated to them by the Constitution - a solemn reminder that the duty to uphold the Constitution is not the final responsibility of the courts, but is shared by also the legislative and executive branches of government.
In addition to reading the Constitution, the GOP is adopting a rule requiring that every bill cite what specific provisions of the Constitution empower Congress to enact it (every law is supposed to be pursuant to the Constitution as it is - sad it takes a rule to remind them of that).
The Democrats beg to differ. Calling the reading of the Constitution a stunt, and the tendency of the right to cling to the Constitution a "fetish."
In September 2009, then-Majority Whip James Clyburn (D–SC) told Fox News: "There’s nothing in the Constitution that says that the federal government has anything to do with most of the stuff we do."
In October 2009, a reporter asked then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D–CA): "Madam Speaker, where specifically does the Constitution grant Congress the authority to enact an individual health insurance mandate?" Speaker Pelosi shook her head dismissing the question: "Are you serious? Are you serious?"
In April 2010, then-Representative Phil Hare (D–IL) responded to constituents asking about Obamacare: "I don’t worry about the Constitution on this to be honest."
In August 2010, Representative Pete Stark (D–CA) told constituents asking if the Constitution limits Congress in any way: "The federal government can, yes, do most anything in this country."
The answer the liberals prefer is that the Constitution is an obstacle, and that they can take whatever power they deem necessary.
If the Constitution does not authorize a federal power, and the federal government takes that power anyway, that is a seizure of power - which makes the U.S. Government a bona-fide tyranny.
Hence, the reason the American people soundly rejected the 111th Congress during election 2010.
But if the 112th Congress is going to prove itself as one that adheres to the Constitution, it has a great number of obstacles ahead of it. The massive government spending we are suffering must be controlled, and diminished greatly. Unconstitutional liberal programs like Obamacare, the food safety bill, financial bill, partial ownership of GM and Chrysler, and massive federal agency regulations, must be reversed. Taxes must be lowered. The federal government must begin to move back in a direction that is constitutional. After all, we must remember that the U.S. Constitution is a document of limited, enumerated powers, giving the federal government few and defined powers.
No, I am not expecting miracles. After all, the Senate, Presidency, and much of the courts, remain under hard left liberal Marxist control. But, the House better not fold. Americans expect them to pull out all the stops - and in 2012 the reinforcements will be sent in.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
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